S2 E5 - Jess Kelly, The Design Department
Fri Aug 15 2025
Jess Kelly is a graphic designer, author, educator, and business owner, though she might humbly tell you she’s just a “pretty average designer.” But what Jess does is anything but average.
Through her design studio, The Design Dept, and her weekly blog, which she’s written for over five years, Jess reflects on creativity, parenting, business, and the honest highs and lows of building a life that matters. Most recently, she’s stepped into a new role as a STEM educator at Ballarat Tech School, bringing her empathy, clarity, and creative thinking into classrooms full of future engineers, coders, and designers.
Friendly isn’t enough of a word to describe Jess. When I met her a year ago, I remember her bubbly greeting of KiaOra! and her collection of amazing shirts that we’d see every day of The Design Conference. I saw her confidently meet new people by asking about the best thing that had happened to them that day, rather than the typical “so, what do you do?”.
In this episode, Jess and I talk about quiet impact, redefining what success looks like, and why there’s dignity (and power) in doing the kind of work that doesn’t always win awards, but makes the world turn more smoothly.
From typesetting school readers to inspiring kids who’ve never used a mouse before, Jess reminds us that creativity can be both gentle and transformational.
As I do with all my guests, I asked Jess what she’d do on day two if she came into $100 million. Please enjoy the ever warm, intelligent, and insightful, Jess Kelly.
Connect with Trish: www.instagram.com/trishjohnstone
Learn about Oath + Stone: www.oathandstone.com.au
Apply to be a guest: www.oathandstone.com.au/creativebones
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Jess Kelly is a graphic designer, author, educator, and business owner, though she might humbly tell you she’s just a “pretty average designer.” But what Jess does is anything but average. Through her design studio, The Design Dept, and her weekly blog, which she’s written for over five years, Jess reflects on creativity, parenting, business, and the honest highs and lows of building a life that matters. Most recently, she’s stepped into a new role as a STEM educator at Ballarat Tech School, bringing her empathy, clarity, and creative thinking into classrooms full of future engineers, coders, and designers. Friendly isn’t enough of a word to describe Jess. When I met her a year ago, I remember her bubbly greeting of KiaOra! and her collection of amazing shirts that we’d see every day of The Design Conference. I saw her confidently meet new people by asking about the best thing that had happened to them that day, rather than the typical “so, what do you do?”. In this episode, Jess and I talk about quiet impact, redefining what success looks like, and why there’s dignity (and power) in doing the kind of work that doesn’t always win awards, but makes the world turn more smoothly. From typesetting school readers to inspiring kids who’ve never used a mouse before, Jess reminds us that creativity can be both gentle and transformational. As I do with all my guests, I asked Jess what she’d do on day two if she came into $100 million. Please enjoy the ever warm, intelligent, and insightful, Jess Kelly. Connect with Trish: www.instagram.com/trishjohnstone Learn about Oath + Stone: www.oathandstone.com.au Apply to be a guest: www.oathandstone.com.au/creativebones